Despite New York City and state health guidelines, Governor Kathy Hochul and RIOC CEO Shelton Haynes make no effort to protect Roosevelt Islanders against COVID and other respiratory infections. Cases, hospitalizations and deaths are at levels not seen since last summer, but neither has stepped up to help.

by David Stone

The Roosevelt Island Daily News

“At Inauguration, Hochul Vows to Make New York Safer…” was the headline for a New York Times article. But that’s about as credible as her promise, shortly after taking over from Andrew Cuomo, that she’d improve accountability and transparency.

From a Roosevelt Island point of view, she did neither as our report on Haynes’s self-composed transparency plan showed. And her promise of a safer New York is equally false. Here’s the evidence:

• May 7th, 2021, A Lonely Day at the New York State Shelton J. Haynes Parking Area
• Two months down, Governor Kathy Hochul and Roosevelt Island. In one image…
• Now That She’s Re-Elected, Here’s What Hochul Can Do for Roosevelt Island
• A new gov: Kathy Hochul. What’s it mean for Roosevelt Island?
• How Shelton Haynes And Friends Took Control of RIOC

Here’s what the New York City website says: “We strongly recommend wearing a face covering as much as possible when you are with other people in an indoor setting that is not your home, even if 6 feet of distance can be maintained.”

And New York State’s guidance is identical.

So, why isn’t the Kathy Hochul/Shelton J. Haynes administration doing what they should and protecting us?

Can the Lawsuit Reach the Stacks in Time?

Residents have spent months asking City and State agencies to show why the Roosevelt Island Steam Plant must be demolished. Meetings produced promises. The CAG produced more process.

Theo Gobblevelt Aug 28, 2026

The underlying record remains largely hidden. Now two residents have taken the question somewhere government cannot manage quite as easily: a courtroom.

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